PREPARATIONS for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding on May 19 are well underway after the RAF and Army Air Corps were seen practising their routines ahead of the big day.

Soldiers and military personnel were seen practicing sword drills, rehearsing marching routines and flying helicopters at RAF Honington and the Army Air Corp’s Wattisham Airfield yesterday.

Over 250 members of the Armed Forces will be present at the special event, with 23 soldiers, one sergeant and one officer from Prince Harry’s former Army Air corps regiment lining the street outside St George’s Chapel.

Captain William Calder, who will lead the royal salute, expressed his nerves ahead of his former colleague’s nuptials and said he was “stunned” to receive the role.

He said: “We will march through Windsor into the castle in time for the end of the wedding and as the couple and the Royal Family depart, we will be pride of place presenting them with a royal salute as they emerge from the chapel.

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Over 250 members of the Armed Forces will be present at the royal wedding on March 19

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Prince Harry worked as an Apache helicopter co-pilot with the 3 Regiment Air Corps

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23 soldiers, one sergeant and one officer will line the street outside St George's Chapel

It makes me a little bit nervous that we will be front and centre – the Queen and the senior members of the royal family will be stepping out the door right beside us

Captain William Calder

“It makes me a little bit nervous that we will be front and centre – the Queen and the senior members of the Royal Family will be stepping out the door right beside us and I'll probably be positioned about five metres from them.

“For us stepping into ceremonial duties is something a little bit outside of our remit but it's a nice, special treat and something different.”

Another solider also expressed his nerves, but said “it’s a privilege” to be involved.

He added: “Obviously there will be a few thousand people in attendance and millions of people worldwide watching the event but to be one of the roughly 250 military personnel taking part, to be able to see it will be amazing.

“There's always going a little bit of nerves and trepidation with anything you do to that level but by the time we get there, the training we conduct this week and next, we'll be looking smart and good to go.”

Captain Calder also recalled his previous meeting with the Prince, which took place unexpectedly in the cafe at the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop, in Hampshire, where the royal asked him “can I join you?”.

He said: “I knew he looked familiar, finally it dawned on me it was Prince Harry and of course he was utterly natural and charming and friendly and just like any other officer in the regiment.”

Prince Harry served for over 10 weeks in Helmand, Afghanistan in 2007-2008 with the 3 Regiment Air Corps, but he was pulled out after an Australian magazine revealed his presence in the region.

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He returned to Afghanistan for a 20-week deployment in 2012-13, but eventually left the Army in June 2015.

During his time in the Army, Prince Harry worked as an Apache helicopter co-pilot and was referred to as Captain Wales.

Members of numerous divisions of the British Armed Forces will be present in Windsor on the day of the wedding, including personnel from RAF Honington, the 1st Batallion Irish Guards, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, the Household Cavalry, the Royal Marines, and the Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving unit.